NormaNorma wants to take care of kids someday just like her cardiac team at Children’s. Only 2 weeks old when she received a pacemaker, Norma is happy and active today – a 7-year-old with big dreams and a heart for others.

Her'ManiiA fractured elbow brought Her’Manii to the orthopedic specialists at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center. Ready to treat a full spectrum of bone, joint and muscle disorders, we got Her’Manii in to surgery and on to recovery.

Celiac Clinic

Celiac Disease Clinic

The Celiac Clinic at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center is the only pediatric clinic of its type in the area. Our multi-disciplinary team works with you and your child to help successfully develop a gluten-free diet that will eliminate the negative symptoms of celiac disease.

What is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is a digestive condition caused by sensitivity to the protein gluten. The gluten triggers an immune reaction, which causes the body to create antibodies to get rid of it. This can result in damage to the small intestine, reduced absorption of important nutrients and long-term complications.

It is estimated that more than 3,000,000 people in the United States are affected by celiac disease, but only 150,000 have been diagnosed. Celiac disease often occurs in children who are affected by type 1 diabetes, Williams syndrome, Down syndrome, selective IgA deficiency, Turner syndrome and those who have first degree relatives with celiac disease.

Seeking early diagnosis and treatment for celiac disease is important to prevent long-term complications. Malabsorption of nutrients can cause vitamin deficiencies that can lead to stunted growth in children, osteoporosis, folate and iron deficiency, and kidney and liver issues.

Symptoms

Celiac disease can be difficult to diagnose because there are no “typical symptoms” and many of them mimic other gastrointestinal problems. Up to one-third of children have clinically silent disease and another 40 percent have atypical symptoms.

When symptoms do occur, they are often related to the gastrointestinal tract. These may include:

Blood tests are used to determine who is likely to have celiac disease. If the test is positive, this is followed by an endoscopic small bowel biopsy, which can reveal the severity of your child’s condition and help doctors better manage the disease.

The diagnosis of celiac disease is considered definitive when all of your child’s symptoms have been resolved after adhering to a strict gluten-free diet.

Treatment

Celiac disease can be effectively managed by following a gluten-free diet. This diet needs to be followed for a lifetime, even after symptoms have disappeared. Ingesting even small amounts of gluten can lead to problems with the intestinal tract.

When your child follows a gluten-free diet, treatment follow-up will be minimal. Follow-up will include periodic visits for assessment of symptoms, growth, physical examination and adherence to the gluten-free diet.

A gluten-free diet involves avoiding any ingredient derived from wheat, rye, oats, barley or malt. This also includes non-food products such as cosmetics, lotions, personal care products, and envelope glues, to name a few. Read labels to ensure the product is gluten free.